New spa treatments for mom

Here are some noteworthy treatments that moms should think about working into their budgets.

Laser to lessen stretch marks
We all love our babies, however the one thing that we could do without would be the stretch marks that accompany the stretching and relaxing in our skin. While nothing can permanently remove stretchmarks, there are some promising new treatments.

The FDA recently approved Palomar's fractional laser skin treatment for stretch marks. The lasers work by delivering high-precision microbeams which stimulate your body's natural healing process to create healthy new tissue and formation of recent collagen. The result for moms is really a diminished appearance of stretchmarks. The treatments are done monthly over a five month time period. While not cheap - each treatment will definitely cost approximately $750- $800 - the results are significant.

Body wraps to conquer bloat
New moms (and moms generally!) are usually time-pressed to fit in exercise every day. While getting even 10-20 minutes of exercise every single day is beneficial, sometime it's just insufficient. This is where slimming body wraps are available in very handy! The process look like something out of a horror comedy, however the results are motivating.

Companies like LA Slimwrap use bandages drizzled with a patented herbal potion which are then carefully wrapped around every aspect of your body. After you are "mummified," you step onto an elliptical trainer and move for approximately 50 minutes. Finally, you're unwrapped, feeling lighter and slimmer.

Results do vary, but many people lose inches on parts of their body. Depending on the kind of wrap you choose, they can cost between $135-$200. For the best results, LA Slimwrap recommends three wraps done within 10-15 times of each other.

Detox in an infrared sauna
Infrared saunas are another unusual "spa treatment" for moms. While a normal sauna increases your body temperature by heating the environment, an infrared sauna only heats the body using lights (and at a lesser temperature, making it a good option if you fail to tolerate the heat of a traditional sauna).

The operation is simple: You step into a personal room with a special infrared sauna unit (some infrared spas have televisions and music within the room as well). The sessions are usually 45 minutes long and the heat increases gradually. Infrared enthusiasts declare that the units help to decrease pain, induce sweating (and detoxification) and increase circulation.

While these claims haven't been "medically proven," one thing is perfect for sure - these saunas provide you with a place to relax! I call these "mommy cocoons" and you may delight in the quiet heat while drinking cucumber water and catching up with the most recent gossip magazines. I recommend these to moms who need a period out!

Lymphatic drainage for glowing skin

While lymphatic drainage facial massages happen to be used by estheticians for years to promote glowing skin, only recently are we become more aware of this technique and just how important it is to stimulating your skin for a beautiful glow. In the spa, look for facial treatments that begin with an exfoliating treatment to get rid of the top, dull layer of skin (like a diamond peel or enzyme peel), followed by having an oxygen-infusing treatment (to hydrate and plump stressed skin).

Next, your treatment ought to be followed with a lymphatic drainage facial massage. The lymph drainage product is our body's natural way of detoxifying itself. If the system gets clogged up, the end result can be dull, tired skin (specifically for overwhelmed new mommies). Once this technique becomes unclogged, toxins can be effectively taken off our bodies, resulting in glowing, radiant skin.